Variable speed transmission



559%- 23, l94 G. o. .IOYNER ET AL 2,255,903

VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION I GeorgemEglOO/'ef BY Dona/d Scott Myer@ @0%2y ,gi/W

, ATTORNEY.

Sept. 23, 1941.

G. O. JOYNER ET AL VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed April l5, 1940 8Sheets-5h66?l 2 mmmmm G eorge O Joyner lNvENToR and Dona/d Scott MyersBY @0% /f gi@ Sept. 23, 1941.'

G. o. JOYNER ETAL VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed Aprii 13, 1940 ssheets-sheet 5 Il..- w

Mmmm

1 INVENTOR G eorge O. Joyner and DQnQ/d Scott Myers Sept. 23. 1941. G.o. JOYNER ET AL 2,256,903

VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed Aprl- 13, 1940 8 *SheetS-Sheevc 41NVENTOR. Dona/d Scott Myers www ATTORNEY.

Sept. 23, 194. G. o. JOYNER ET AL 2,255,903

VARIABLE. SPEED TRANSMISSION Filed April 13, '1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 a@Rw m OH. S H www m A E n VJ N L @E NQ IOt awww.-- e o .1 5.1M?- 9C ww EE Gm n l NQ Hi: w HHH OA\.\ w$ v@ n M l @v .vi QQ u: @E N llll l1 PQ Illl llll .IIF lll. |l|| |.l|| ,wm Il @M 1| NQ ma i l Il QQ .Q Nw` *M\ QSept. 23, 1941. G. o. JOYNER. ETAL VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSIN 8Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 15,l 1940 Y George QJ-oyner and Don/d Scott'1NVENT0R Mye rs @a/Mgg@ sept. 23, 1941.

G.l o. JoYNER x-:r Al. 255,903

'VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION l,

Filed April 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENI R.

George 'O J'oyne/ f'nnd Dono/d'Scotf1-Myers I BY if? im ATTORNEY.y

Sept. 23, 1941. G. o; JOYNER ErAL VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION FiledApril 13, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet "3 Gerge Joyner and Dna/o' Scott atentedSept. 23, 1941 ortica VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION George O. Joyner andDonald Scott Myers,

St. Louis, Mo.

Application April 13, 1940, serial No. 329,465

6 Claims.

This -invention relates to improvements in variable speed transmissions.More particularly, the invention relates to variable speedtransmissions, wherein the power impressed on the driving shaft isapplied intermittently to the driven shaft.

It is an object of the invention to provide a variable speedtransmission of simple and eilicent construction, which will provide alarge range of speeds.

There are a number of variable speed transmissions in existence, most ofwhich require the shifting of gears to vary the speed ratio between theinput and output shafts of-the transmission. The use of gears to vaiythe speed ratio between the input and output shafts of a transmissionrequires gear-shifting means and a friction clutch. This increases thecost of power transmission and requires the exercise of a certain amountof skill bythe operator. Power transmissions making use of gear shiftingare, therefore, not as desirable as a' transmission wherein speedchanges are obtained merely by movement ofY a lever. Some transmissionshave been made and used which provide for the varying of the speed ratiobetween the input and output shafts of a' transmission merely by themovement of a lever,.but the speed ranges of these devices have beenseriously limited. The invention provides a lever-operated variablespeed transmission that will 'giveoutput shaft speeds from onerevolution per minute to crankshaft speedror greater. It is therefore,an object of the invention to provide a variable speed transmissioncontrolled by a single lever, which will give output speeds from onerevolution per minute to crankshaft speeds or greater.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be shown anddescribed in the drawings and accompanying description.

In the drawings, we show two preferred embodiments of our invention, butwe do so only for the sake of convenience, and it is to be under..stoodthat the drawings and accompanying description 'do not limit theinvention and that' the invention will be dei-ined by the appendedclaims.

Fig. 1 ofthe drawings is a View of the elements of one preferred form ofvariable speed transmission as they are assembled in operative relation.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an element of the transmission takenalong the plane 3-3 indicated inFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an element of the transmission takenalong the plane 2-2 indicated in Fig. 1.

-Fig 4 is a cross-sectional-view of a part of the elementl of thetransmission shown in Fig. 3 taken along the plane 2 4 indicated in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View of an element of the transmission takenalong the plane 5--5 indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of an element ofthetransmission taken along the plane G+S indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig; '7 is a View of the elements of another preferred form of variablespeed transmission,A

that'shows the elements of the transmission as they are assembled inoperative relation.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an element of the transmission takenalong the plane 8-8 indicated inY Fig. 7. A

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional View of a part of the element of 'thetransmission shown in Fig. 8 taken along the plane 9 9 indicated in Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing some of the elements of thetransmission and is taken along the plane Ill-I0 indicated in Fig. '7.

Fig. 1l is a cross-sectional view of the elements ofthe transmissiontaken along the plane Il--II indicated in Fig. 7. v

:Referringto the drawings in detail, the first embodiment of theinvention may be regarded as Athe aggregation of a number of elements.

These elements may roughly be designated as a casing, a drivingmechanism, a drum, and a float-r VThedrive shaft I2 is journaled inbearing I5 in 'end plate v.It and'is rotatably supported in rotatableshaft I0. The collar 24 is so associated with the shaft I2 that thecollar 24 may be moved longitudinally on the shaft I2, while the collarand shaft rotate together. This association can be secured in a numberof ways, but the present embodiment uses a shaft having flat portionsmilled thereon, andra collar having a hub section complementary tothecross-section of the shaft. 'Ihe collar 24 has a groove 26 in its outerperipheryin which la ring 28 is held. The engagement between the ring 28and the groove 26 is loose enoughv to permit rotation of the collar 24Without rotation of the ring 28. The ring 28 is securedy to a lever 30by pins 32. The lever 30 is rotatably attached to the main section 22 ofthe casing by a stud and pin 23. The free end of lever extends throughthe main section 22 of the casing and may be operated by manual or othermeans not shown. The collar 24 is provided with an inclined inner faceor surface 25. This inclined face 25 engages one arm of lever 34. Lever34 has a rounded portion which ts in a groove in shaft I2 and acts as afulcrum for lever 34. A lever 36v is attached to lever 34 by pin 38. Thelever is connected to a movable counterbalancing Weight 40 by pin 39. Alever. 44, connected to lever 34 by pin 46, bears against the innersurface of cam 58. The lever 44 inthis.A embodiment of the inventionconsists of. two. parts held together by pins 45 vand 46; Secured' tocam by suitable means, such as machine screws 48, is a cam plate 52. In;the centralpore.v tion of the cam plate 52 is a longitudinal,opening.This opening is so dimensioned that the sides thereofv engage flatportions milled on theshaft I2 and cause the cam to rotate Withthershaft. 'I he-fopening is long enough to permit the movement of cam58 in avplane perpendicular to the axis` of shaft I2. This permits theeccentricity of the cam to-be changedat Will. Grooves may be. machinedin the cam plate 52 to serve as guides for the counterbalancingjweight40. Projections 42 on the counterbalancing weight 48.en gage the groovesin the cam plate 52, and guide the movement of the counterbalancingWeight 48. o

relative to the cam plate 52. The cam has two bearingsurfaces '54 and5E. These bearing` surfaces engage rollers 58 and 68. which are mount-Led on shaft 62. Shaft 62 is rigidly connected to rocker arm 64 androtates therewith. A shaft 6 6. and a cam 8fare also rigidly attached tothe rocker arm 64. The shaft 66and the cam 68 areipositioned in drum 84and oscillate with the rocker armI 64. lThe shaft 6G is journaled inbearings 18 in the end plates of drum 84. The cam- E8` has a socketmachined in it which receives a lever 12 that is rotatablyconnectedjtodriving. shoe 16 by a pin 14. Springs 18 engage shoe16^and1cam E8, and tendA to hold the adjoining edges of the shoe and camparallelto each other. The cam 68 and `shoe 16 are positioned inside ofa gear 88. The gear, has gear teethon the outer periphery and a driving;surfacev on its inner periphery.

The gear 8D is .-1

' shaft.

mounted in drum 84: and engages the central.

gear 82 which is rigidly attached toV rotatable. shaft I8. The drum 84which comprises two end plates held together, by spacer 83 and nut and..bolt 83 is rotatable with respect to the casing. 22 and alsov rotatablewith respect to the shaftv I0. Bearings 86. and 81 in the endplatesofdrum1,84` permit the shaft I0 to., rotate independently. of. the drum84. Bearingl 88 in end plate I8 of the casingzpermits the drum 84 torotate. indeplendently of; the casing Rigidly attached tothe drum 84`and rotatable therewith is a sleeve 90 tp which bearing 88 may beattached. A gear. 82 and a brake drum 94 are rigidly secured' to sleeveSil; and rotate therewith.` The gear 92. en.- gages. a gear. |22, Whichis an element of the. device to be drivenby the transmission. The. shaftIl]V is rotatably supported, by bearing I'3 in't endf mounting, I4; by:bearings 85 andA 81' in the. end plates of drum 84'. andA by the hollowAportion'of shaft I2.V The central gear. 82, a. gear- 9|-and a brake drum98 are all; rigidly secured toi the shaft I8.- and rotate therewith. Thegear Y 9|5:Y engagesa gear; |28, which is anj element of the devicef'to.bei driven .by the .transmission..75f

Brakes |00 and |02 are secured to end mounting I4, and engage brakedrums 98 and 94 respectively. The brakes consist of a brake arm |84 towhich a lining |06 is secured. The brake arm |84 is pivotally secured toa projection |81 on the end mounting I4 by a pin |88. The other end ofthe brake arm |84 is pivotally connected to lever II2 by a pin IID. Thelever |I2 is con- I lectedjtoI the brake operating. lever III by a pinI=|-4. The-brake operatingL lever I I:I' is, connected to the endmounting I4 by a pin ||8.

The second embodiment of the invention that is shown in the drawings mayalso be considered roughlyaslthe. aggregation of a number of elements.These elements may be designated as a casing; rotatable drums, cams andthe driven The casing comprises a main body section- I24 andend plates|26 and |28. Bearings |30 and, |32 are mounted in end plates |26 and|28M respectively. A drive shaft |34 is rigidly connected-torotatabledrumsv |36fand, |38. Each rotatable: druml comprises two end. platesYthat; arefheld together byY spacers |35, andA nuts-andi bolts. |31:Therotatable drums,|36 andi |38are; rigidly connectedl by. asleeve I39in such manner:v that the two form a unit and rotate as such.: Therotatable drums I 36and- |38- are supported by bearingi I32in endplate-|28- and bearingI |40.;- which is mounted in the druml |38. ThevdrivenfY shaft |18 is supported by bearing |38. in end plate.-

the-levers; |41 engage recesses in cam |482, The:

- land I58engagefthe,bearingfaces I 68. and I 52;

respectively of cams; |84 andfIGB. The cams have:v central sections inwhich longitudinalA openings; |68,- are;- made. VThese openings are; so;dimenesioned'- that theirfsidesengage. guides; |.1IJ whichJI arerigidly. connected to, the mainbody; section; |12 4s of the c asingby;vstruts I,1`.| Thefcentralgsecationsv of; the cams; |84 and. |66have.anopeningl |5123, through which the shaft; |18.'and;-the-:slee1v.e;= |392 extend'. Cams; |64.- and` |63respectivelyrare:

tend through'. the main,- body; sectionv |24. ofthe:4 casing. The drivenshaft |18 has centraltears; I fi5- rigidlys attached. to` it; andisconnected by suitable means. to the device to f be.- driven' by; thetransmission.

c The. principle of operation ofI the. invention-is the intermittentapplication of power toa-rotateing member. In thepreferredembodimentsoff. the.' invention that are. shown in the drawings.Z the., drive issecured" by shoes which are. inter:- mittently applied' to. a drivingsurface by the.; action' ofa` rockerarm. The drive may al'sobe securedby use` of overerunning .orstep-byf-step clutches since these and theclutch, shown in the* drawingsA are interchangeable: arm that actuatesthe shoes is actuated by a camhaving a variableeccentr-ioity.` Thedesigrrof thetransmission: is suchthat; with aconstant'i speed at theinput, the rocker arm isffoscillated the'. samez number offtirnesu penlminutes "I'he The rocker 'of gear 8d.

change of eccentricity of the cam changes the amplitude of oscillationof the rocker arm and the amount of travel of the driving shoes. 'Sincethe rocker arm and the driving shoes have the same number ofoscillations per minute, changes in the amplitude of oscillation willaffect the speed of the device. This can be appreciated when it isrealized that all oscillations of the shoes must be completed in thesame time. It is obvious, therefore, that the driving surface must bemoving faster with a longer oscillation than it would be with a shortoscillation, since both oscillations require the same time.

The oscillation of the rocker arms in the first preferred embodiment iscaused by the eccentricity of the driving cam 50. The driving cam is acircular cam which may rotate eccentrically or concentrically withrespect to the axis of drum 84. When cam yil!! rotates concentrically,no force is transmitted from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, andthe two shafts may rotate independently. When cam 58 rotateseccentrically, the cam followers will move back and forth and cause therocker arms to oscllate. Cam 50 is provided with two bearing surfaces 54and 5S. Surface 54 causes the rollers on shaft S2 to move outwardly,while surface 56 causes the rollers on shaft 62 to move inwardly. Thesesurfaces make cam 56 a positive follower cam. When the cam is moved bylevers 34 and lili, which are actuated by movement of collar 24, oneportion of its periphery will be farther from the center of the shaftthan other portions. As this portion of the cam moves in its orbit, theshafts 52 will move outwardly. This outward movement of shaft 52 causesthe rotation of rocker arms 64 which are connected to and rotate withshafts SS and cam 63. The rotation of cam 68 causes the actuation oflevers 12. These levers are rotatably secured to shoes 16 and engagerecesses in cam 6g in such manner that the rotation of cam 68 causes theshoes 16 to move outward from the cam in opposition to springs 18. Sincethe shoes 16 and the cam 68 are Situated within gear 8o, the initialrotation of cam 68 forces shoes 'IS into contact with the .drivingsurface of gear 88, and the continued rotation of cam 68 causes gear 88to rotate. As the low portion of the periphery of the cam moves in itsorbit, the shaft 62 is forced to move inwardly and rotates the rockerarm 64, shaft 56, and cam B8 in the opposite direction. Rotation of cam68 in the opposite direction permits shoes 16 to move inwardly towardthe cam 68 under the iniuence of springs 1B and permit free rotation Itcan be seen that, as the high point on the periphery of the cam moves inits orbit and is followed by the low point on the periphery of the cam,the rocker arms 64 and cams S8 rotate rst in one direction and then inthe other. The cams 68, levers 12, and shoes are so arranged thatrotation in one direction drives the gears 89, while rotation in theother direction permits the gears 80 to rotate without interference.

The eccentricity of the cam 5B is adjusted by movement of lever 3E. Thelever 38 is pivotally connected to a ring 2B which engages a groove 26in collar 2li. As the lever is moved, the collar 24 slides along theshaft I2, and this can be done while the shaft i2 is rotating. Themovement of collar 2li causes the inclined face 25 thereon to engage theend of lever 3Q, and continuedmovement of the collar 24 causes rotationof the lever 3. The rotation of lever 3G displaces the cam 50 anddisplaces the counterweight ,40. The counterweight 4|) is so designedthat any movement of the cam 58 is compensated for automatically bymovement of the counterweight A6, and constant dynamicbalance ismaintained.

The eccentricity of the cam 56 causes the rocker arm to oscillate andthe cams 68 to oscillate. 50 causes Aa large amplitude of oscillation,while a small amount of eccentricity causes asmall amplitude ofoscillation. Since allY the oscillations Vtakethe same'amount' of time,the large oscillations vthat result from a large amount of eccentricityresult in increased speed at the out-A put. M

Forward and'reverse drive may be obtained in the first preferredembodiment of the invention by braking either the drum 84 `or the shafti6. Gears are mounted on the shaft I6 arid the extension and engagegearsin the device to be driven. By applying or releasing brakes le@ and|62, forward or reverse motion of the device to be driven can beobtained.

In the second preferred embodiment of the invention, a source of poweris applied to Vshaft 34.

" The rotation of shaft |34 causes the rotation of drums |36 and |38which are rotatable with shaft |35. If the cams |65 and '|66 are in theneutral position, the rotation of drums 36 and |38 will not affect Vtherotatable shaft |13. To operate the device it is necessary onlyto moveextension |16 or extension |16. One of these extensions controls forwardspeeds, and the other controls `the speeds vin reverse; If extension His moved, the rollers |56 and |58 rotatable with drum |36 will move backand forth with respect to the aXis of rotation of that drum. Tris motionimparts a rocking motion to the rocker arms |52 vrcarried bythe 4drumand causes the oscillation of cams |83. The oscillation of cams t8results in the intermittent applicationV of driving shoes |435 to thedriving surface of gears ist. The intermittent application of power tolthe, gears |54 causes the rotation thereof and the rotation of shaft|18 `by the engagement between gear |46, which is mounted on the shaft|18, and gears IM. .If extension |16 is moved, the rollers rotatablewith drum |38 will move back and forth with respect to the axis ofrotation of that drum. This motion imparts a rocking motion to therocker arms, that results in the intermittent application of power tothe gears IAM. This intermittent application of power to the gears M4causes a rotation of shaft |18 in the direction opposite to the rotationinduced when extension |14 is moved.

The drums 36 and |38 are so connected to shaft |18 that shaft |18 andthe drums |36 and |38 form a planetary gear train. Because of this l itis possible to brake the transmission by moving the extensions fromforward to reverse and vice versa. If, for instance, extension |14 wasin the operating position and it was desired to stop the device, theextension Ht would be moved out of operating position and extension |16would be moved into operating position. The movement of extension Hdwould halt the application of force to shaft |18 and the movement of eX-tension |16 would start the application of force in the oppositedirection to shaft |18. This would cause the rapid deceleration of theshaft A transmission made in accordance with the teachings of thisinvention could be -used either with a constant speed source of power ora vari- A large amount'of eccentrioity of the camv able speed source ofpower, toprovide, speeds from one. revolution per.- minute to.crankshaft speed or greater merely. by moving a lever.-

What we claim is:

1. A variable speed transmissioncomprising a. plurality of drivingdrums, a driven shaft, gear portions rotatable with the drivenshaft, aset of annular gears positioned in each driving drum adapted to engageagear portion that rotates with the driven shaft, clutches positionedV inthe annular gears adapted toapply' force to the driven shaft whenrotated in one direction andpermit free movement of the driveny shaftywhen rotated in the opposite direction, the clutches in one set ofannular gears being arranged to rotatethe driven shaft in one directionandthe clutches in the other set of annular gears being arranged torotate the drivenshaft in the opposite direction, rocker arms and' camfollowers operatingv the clutches, and aplurality of cams of adjustableeccentricity that are adaptedto actuate the cam followers and rockerarms.

2. A variable speed transmission comprising av plurality of drivingdrums, a drivenshaft, gears rotatable with the driven shaft, a set ofannular gears positioned in eachv driving drum adapted to engage thegears that rotate with the driven. shaft, clutches positionedv inv oneset of annular gears adapted to rotate the driven shaft in onedirection, clutches positioned in the other set of annular gears adaptedto rotate thedriven shaft in the opposite direction, rocker arms and camfollowers operating the clutches, anda plurality of cams of adjustableeccentricity that are adapted to actuate the rocker armsand camfollowers.

3. A variable speed transmission comprising a plurality of driving drumsrigidly-secured to and rotatable with each other, a driven shaftgearsrotatable with the driven shaft, a set of annular gears positioned ineach ofthe driving drums adapted to engage one of thegears rotatablewith the driven shaft, a clutch positioned' in eachof' the annular gearsthat is adapted, to impart` a uni-directional rotation thereto, the,clutches in the gears of lonedriving drum beingg adapted to rotate thedriven shaft in one direction, the lother clutches being adapted torotate the driven shaft in the opposite direction, rocker arms and, camfollowers actuable to operate the clutches, anda plurality of cams, ofadjustable eccentricity. that:

are adapted to. actuate the cam. followers and rockervarms.

4'. A variable speed-transmission. comprising a. rotatable drivingdrum,aplurality of'- sets ofv an-v nularrgearspositioned in and rotatablewith saiddrivngdrum', a driven shaft .having gear portions.

engaging. the-1. annular gears, clutches. positioned intheannulargearsthat areadaptedlto impart muni-directional rotation to the annulargears,

the-clutchesrin atleast one of theY sets of annular gears beingadapted', to.vrotate the drivenshaft in oney direction, and; other;clutches being arranged to rotate the driven; shaft' in the oppositedirection, rocker arms and. cam followers to operate the.: clutches,and: a pluralityy ofi cams that are.

gears` to` imparta uni-directional rotation. to theL annular gears,Iaportion of said clutches being adaptedtorotate the driven shaft inonedirection,l other clutches: being adapted; to. rotateA the. driven shaftin the opposite direction, and driving means for vthe clutchescomprising1 a` pluralityv of cams of adjustable' eccentricity, camfollowers. and1roeker armsmovable withthe-clutches, said sets of annulargears, cooperating with the drivenshaftand the driving drum1to form aplanetary,

gear train.

6. A variabler speed` transmissionA comprising; adrivingi drum, a.:driven shaft, gearsrotatable with the driven' shaft, two, sets` ofannular gears'.

positioned in the driving drum adapted toengage thezgears that rotatewith the driven shaft,` clutches positioned in one sett ofy annulargearsadapted to rotate the driven shaft in one direction, clutchespositionedfin the otherset ofv annulargears adapted to rotate the drivenshaft in;

the .opposite direction, a plurality of cams of adjustableeccentricity,and means secured to and movable with the clutches lin the annulargears, said means engaging;` the cams of adjustable eccentricity andbeingactuated thereby.

GEORGEO. JOYNER;k DONALD SCOTT MYERS.

